Material pick-up nozzle



Nov. 27, 1962 Filed May 27, 1959 A. H. VEDVIK MATERIAL PICK-UP NOZZLE 2 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR.

Nov. 27, 1962 A. H. VEDVIK MATERIAL PICK-UP NOZZLE 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed May 27, 1959 United States Patent 3,065,882 MATERIAL PICK-UP NOZZLE Andrew H. Vedvik, Madison, Wis., assignor to Oscar The present invention is directed to a new and improved pick-up nozzle which is particularly adapted for removing a layer of fluid-like or free-flowing material from the inner peripheral surface of a rotating vessel. More specifically, the present invention is directed to a pick-up nozzle for removing free-flowing viscous or powder-like material from a rotating cylindrical surface on which surface the material is accumulated and retained by the action of centrifugal force.

It is an important object of the present invention to provide a new and improved pick-up nozzle for removing and discharging a layer of free-flowing material from the inner peripheral surface of a rotating vessel.

A more specific object of the invention is to provide a new and improved pick-up nozzle for removing a pcripheral layer of comminuted meat which has been centrifugally accumulated in a rapidly rotating bowl-like rotor of a continuous chopper assembly.

A detailed object of the invention is to provide a new and improved material pick-up nozzle for use in the manner described in the foregoing objects wherein the open end of the nozzle is provided with valve means to variably maintain the opening therein approximately equal to the cross-sectional area of a layer of centrifugally accumulated material, the open end also having associated therewith a deflector means for the retention of material in the accumulation area.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a new and improved free-flowing material pick-up nozzle of the character described having a valve pivotably mounted adjacent the open end thereof which is adapted to be opened by the force of the material impinging thereagainst and which prevents reverse flow of the material from said open end.

Certain other objects of the invention will, in part, be obvious, and will in part appear hereinafter.

For a more complete understanding of the nature and scope of the invention reference may now be had to the accompanying drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is a fragmentary vertical section of a continuous chopper assembly utilizing a preferred embodiment of the pick-up nozzle in a material-accumulation rotor forming a part of the assembly;

FIG. 2 is a horizontal section taken generally on the line 2-2 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary enlarged horizontal section taken through the pick-up nozzle;

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary enlarged elevation of the pickup nozzle looking toward the open end thereof as indicated by the line 4--4 of FIG. 3; and

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the open end of the pick-up nozzle.

' While the chopper assembly shown in FIG. 1 is adapted for use in comminuting, accumulating and discharging in a continuous and automatic manner any material which can be subjected to the sequence of operations performed thereby, it is particularly adapted for comminuting meat in the preparation of sausage. However the chopper or comminuting portion of the assembly to be described is merely exemplary of a specific use of the material pick-up nozzle of the present invention, it being understood that q the nozzle may be used in removing many different types The continuous chopper assembly 10 generally includes a material particle size reduction zone 11 constituting the chopper portion of the assembly and a material collection and discharge zone generally designated by the numeral 12. Specifically, the assembly 10 includes a sleeve-like upper shaft housing 13 receiving therein a shaft 14 the uppermost end of which projects outwardly of the assembly through an end cap 15 suitably connected to the top end of the housing 13 by a plurality of cap screws 16. The end cap 15 seats a suitable shaft sealing member 17 which is in engagement with the shaft 14. The upper projecting end of the shaft 14 is drive connected to a sheave 18 which is provided with a plurality of grooves in which drive belts (not shown) are received, the drive belts being suitably driven by a power source resulting in rotation of the shaft 14. As illustrated, the assembly 10 is arranged for vertical operation and for the purpose of mounting the assembly a suitable mounting bracket 19 is fixedly connected to the housing 13.

Within the housing 13, the shaft 14 has received thereabout a combined locknut and washer 20 engaging the inner race of a bearing 21 fixed on the shaft 14 and with the outer race held at one end by a bearing clamp ring 22. A spaced bearing 23 is received in the housing 13 about the shaft 14 and the bearings 21 and 23 are maintained in operative positions by a spacer sleeve 24-. The lower bearing 23 is received on an upwardly projecting sleeve-like portion of a chopper housing cover plate 25, the housing 13 being mounted about the upwardly projecting portion of the cover plate 25 in fixed engagement with the surrounding top surface of the cover plate. A suitable expandable type shaft seal 26 extends between the lower bearing 23 and a sleeve 27 which is received about the bottom portion of the shaft 14. The sleeve 27 is held against axial movement relative to the shaft 14 by a lock stud 28 threadedly received in the bottom of the shaft. The cover plate 25 encloses the top of a cylindrical chopper housing 29 by means of cap screws 30.

The sleeve 27 is suitably spline connected to the shaft 14 for rotation therewith and at the bottom thereof has spline connected thereto a bowl-shaped material collection means in the form of a rotor 31. The rotor 31 rotates with the sleeve 27 and the shaft 14 and is held against axial displacement therefrom by a locknut 32.

Within the chopper housing 29 a plurality of chopper blade member 33 are mounted by a series of alternately positioned blade mounting rings 34 and ring spacers 35. Each blade mounting ring 34 carries a series of circumferentially spaced blade members 33 on both the upper and lower surfaces thereof with the two series of blade members being circumferentially staggered. The spacers 35 are suitably designed to provide for adequate spacing between the blade mountings rings 34 and the blade members 33 carried thereby. A suitable basic arrangement is disclosed in co-pending application Serial No. 701,815, filed December 10, 1957, now Patent No. 2,974,701. Each blade member 33 is provided with a convex cutting edge 36 which includes a bevel 37 on the under side thereof.

Each blade mounting ring 34 and spacer 35 is centrally webbed adjacent the sleeve 27 and the rings and spacers are circumferentially spaced to establish a plurality of axially directed air evacuation or gas input passages or ports 42 which extend the full axial length of the sleeve 27. The passages 42 serve for air evacuation purposes as will be described although it should be understood that inert gas such as nitrogen may be injected into the assembly utilizing the ports 42 for delivery purposes.

The cover plate 25 carries an outlet fitting 43 having the end of an air suction tube or pipe 44 suitably threaded therein. The fitting 43 is aligned with an angled port 45 which extends through the cover plate 25 into communication with the top of the sleeve 27. The top of the sleeve 27 is provided with an integrally formed, radially outwardly extending cup-shaped portion 46 which includes a plurality of angled openings 47 therein which are in communication with the axially extending passages 42. Air evacuation occurs through the port 45 with air being delivered thereto through the passages 42 from between the blade members 33 (which are suitably circumferentially spaced for this purpose) and the outer peripheral comminution zone.

The operation of the chopper portion 11 of the assembly is the same as disclosed in the co-pending application Serial No. 701,815, filed December 10, 1957, now Patent No. 2,974,701. Material, such as relatively small chunks of meat which may have sausage batter ingredients mixed therewith, is delivered into the housing 29 through an inlet tube 48 having a nozzle portion in threaded engagement in an inlet fitting 49 suitably secured to the cover plate of the housing 29, the plate 25 being provided with an inlet opening Which is located in close association with the outer periphery of the housing 29 directly over the uppermost series of blade members 33. The chunks of meat are continuously pumped into the chopper portion 11 and into contact with the plate members 33 which are rotated at relatively high speeds as, for example, within the range of 3,000 to 4,500 rpm, operation at these speeds providing adequate centrifugal force to provide for an accumulation of meat particles along the inner surface of the housing 29 to define a continuously moving layer or sleeve of meat particles which is quite viscous. The meat particles are thus placed in contact with the cutting edges 36 of the blade members 33, these cutting edges being closely spaced to the inner surface of the housing 29. The thickness ofthe sleeve-like accumulation of meat particles may vary from approximately /s to /s of an inch with the cutting edge 36 of each blade member 33 continuously moving through the accumulation for relatively fine comminution thereof. The substantial centrifugal force developed by the high-speed rotation of the blade members 33 will maintain the meat particles against the inner surface of the housing 29 and the bevels 37 formed on the underside of the cutting edges 36 of the blade members 33 will provide for continuous movement of the accumulated meat particles downwardly along the inner surface of the housing 29 toward the lower discharge end of the chopper portion 11.

During comminution of the meat, continuous air evacnation occurs through the tube 44 as previously described, the air released from the meat particles as a result of comminution thereof being drawn inwardly between the blade members 33 into the passages 42 and upwardly through the ports 47 into the tube 44. A vacuum may be drawn on the system to any extent desired.

The comminuted meat particles are delivered from the chopper portion 11 of the assembly 10 into the discharge rotor 31 for centrifugal accumulation therein in a peripheral or annular layer and are then discharged therefrom in a manner to be described. The rotor 31 is in the form of a rotating vessel or bowl provided with an upstanding rim which is closely received about the lower end of the chopper housing 29 to prevent material loss therebetween. The rotor 31 includes a central hub portion 51 which is suitably spline connected to the sleeve 27 and the shaft 14, in the manner previously described, for rotation of the rotor 31 therewith. The outer bowl portion of the rotor 31 is supported by the hub 51 through a plurality of weblike vanes 52 which are beveled along the top surfaces thereof to provide angledmaterial guiding surfaces 53. The angled surfaces 53 diverge somewhat outwardly as well as downwardly to provide a slope or pitch thereto which is inclined downwardly and outwardly to deliver the comminuted meat particles toward and into the peripheral portion of the bowl of the rotor 31.

The bowl portion of the rotor 31 is provided with a peripheral material collecting zone 54 and includes a bot- 4 tom central opening which is partially covered by a shield ring 55 suitably bolted in place. The shield ring 55 is centrally apertured and receives therethrough a stationary discharge pipe 56, adequate clearance being provided between the adjacent surfaces of the pipe 56 and the shield plate 5-5 to permit high speed rotation of the rotor 31 relative to the pipe 56. The pipe 56 is threadedly mounted in a bottom cover plate 57 which carries on the outer side thereof a sleeve 58 for suitable connection with a comminuted material delivery tube or pipe (not shown), the sleeve 58 being axially aligned through the plate 57 with the pipe 56.

The plate 57 is attached by cap screws 59 in covering relation with a central bottom opening in a housing 60 which is received about the rotor 31 in enclosing relation thereto. The upper edge of the housing 60 is circumferentially disposed somewhat above the bottom end of the chopper portion 11 and has received thereon a flange-like cover member 61 which is suitably connected thereto by removable fasteners 62. The cover 61 is fixedly attached to the outer surface of the chopper housing 29 to complete the external housing portion of the assembly and seal the rotor area.

In connection with this air evacuation, vacuum operation of the entire assembly is possible as the passages 42 extend downwardly throughout the entire chopper assembly port-ion 11 and are not only in communication with the comminution zone through the space between the blade members 33 as previously described but also are placed in communication with the interior of the rotor 31 through a plurality of circumferentially spaced, radially directed grooves 63 formed in the top surface of the hub 51 of the rotor 31.

The upper portion of the discharge pipe 56 which is received within the rotor 31 has suitably secured therein a radially outwardly directed material pick-up nozzle 65 which curves into close association with the surface of the rotor 31 in the material collection zone 54 whereby to receive the comminuted meat therein in a scoop-like manner during rotation of the rotor 31.

The chopper structure shown and described herein merely illustrates a typical chopper which may be used in combination with the material accumulation rotor and pick-up nozzle with which the invention is particularly concerned. While the illustrated chopper lends itself particularly well for use in combination with the rotor and nozzle disclosed hereinafter in view of the cooperating single drive and air evacuation features of the combination, it will be understood that other suitable comminution or free-flowing material delivery equipment may be used in combination with the material accumulation rotor and pick-up nozzle.

The sleeve-like accumulation of comminuted material which is established and maintained in the chopper portion 11 of the assembly is illustrated in FIG. 1 and is identified by the reference numeral 66. The accumulation 66 is continuously moved downwardly along the inner surface of the chopper housing 29 and is guided by and across the inclined surfaces 53 of the vanes 52 toward the outer periphery of the interior of the rotor 31. Centrifugal force resulting from the high speed rotation of the rotor 31 provides for the continuous maintenance of an accumulation or layer 67 of comminuted material in the material collection zone 54- thereof and into which the nozzle 65 projects.

The nozzle 65, with which the invention is particularly concerned, is secured at one end to the discharge pipe 56 with the opposite end terminating in a curved nozzle end portion 71. The curved end portion 71, which is provided with a material pick-up opening 72, is formed so that the opening 72 substantially fills the material collection zone 54 and is disposed directly in the path of movement of the centrifugally accumulated, peripheral or annular layer 67 of material. The curved open end 71 of the nozzle 65 is provided with an outermost lip 73 which is preferably spaced approximately 0.015 to 0.030 inch from the surface of the rotor 31 and with an innermost, circumferentially elongated lip 74 which is specially formed to provide a concave, scoop-like deflector 75 which extends forwardly of the opening 72 and is spaced away from the peripheral surface of the rotor 31 overextending the zone 54 thereof. The side edges of the deflector 75 are curved inwardly to project toward the peripheral collection zone 54 in at least partial upper and lower covering relation thereto, as is most evident in FIGS. 4 and 5, which effectively directs any stray material that might possibly emerge from the zone 54 toward the opening 72 in the nozzle 65 and thus confine the material to the zone 54. The concave, scoop-like configuration of the deflector 75 thus serves more than one purpose, namely, material confinement in the zone '54 and material directing to the opening 72. The inner surface of the deflector 75 is built up by a concave plate 76 (FIG. 3) suitably joined to the side edges of the deflector. The innermost portion of the plate 76 is internally backed-up by a transverse plate 77 suitably joined thereto and to inner surface portions of the nozzle 71. The inner edge of the plate 76 is curved to define the opening 72 with the adjacent inner surface of the lip 73. Thus the plate 76 additionally functions to restrict the opening 72 to that portion of the end of the nozzle 65 which is actually disposed in the path of the annular layer 67 of material.

It has been found that the size of the opening 72 should preferably be somewhat larger than the cross-sectional area of the annular layer 67 of material to compensate for a slight build-up of meat fibres at the opening 72. To prevent re-entry of the material from the nozzle 65 into the rotor 31, which action causes turbulence and an undesirable increase in the temperature of the material, a valve member is pivotably mounted in the nozzle 65 closely adjacent to and inwardly of the opening 72. The valve member includes a foot or base portion 78, a mounting pin 79, and a generally semi-circular valve element 80 which effectively closes the opening 72, when in the full line position shown in FIG. 3, to prevent re-entry of material from the nozzle 65 into the rotor 31, the rotor having a vacuum imposed thereon as has been previously described herein. The foot 78 and valve element 80 are integrally formed and pivot about the pin 79 which is suitably journaled through the tube 71. The valve element 80 is adapted to be opened by the layer 67 of material impinging thereagainst and thus acts to restrict the size of the opening 72 to an area approximately equal to the crosssectional area of the impinging layer 67 of material at any given time during operation of the assembly. As the thickness of the layer 67 of material may vary somewhat, the valve element 80 is adapted to open or close to increase or decrease the size of the opening 72 whereby to accommodate such variances.

The comminuted meat accumulated in the collection zone 54 of the rotor 31 is rather viscous. Thus, by restricting the size of the opening 72 of the nozzle 62 to an area substantially equal to the area of the impinging viscous meat, a pressure is created which is adequate to cause the meat to move through the nozzle 65 and the discharge pipe 56 against the frictional forces developed between the viscous material and the walls thereof. When the comminuted meat is first delivered to the rotor 31 from the chopper portion 11 of. the assembly at the beginning of a comminution operation, the layer 67 of meat impinges against the valve element 80 causing it to swing open to allow the entry of the material into the nozzle 65. The foot 78 of the valve element abuts the plate 77 as shown in broken lines in FIG. 3 to limit the extent of total movement of the valve element 80. The meat is carried through the nozzle 65 and the discharge pipe 56 by its own momentum until slowed by friction whereby the entire pipe 56 or nozzle 65 becomes full and creates a back pressure on the valve element 80 which tends to close the same. However, the continuous impinging layer 67 of meat accumulated in the zone 54 delivers enough force to hold the valve element open to permit the nozzle 65 to accommodate the new quantitles of meat for discharge from the rotor. Thus, this force which is now concentrated to act on a relatively small area creates a high enough pressure to overcome the frictional forces developed within the nozzle 65 and to keep the comminuted meat moving through the nozzle 65 and the discharge pipe 56 at a uniform rate. The variable restriction in the nozzle opening 72 which is provided by the valve element 80 prevents a loss of pressure and compensates for any variance in the rate of flow of comminuted material to the rotor 31.

As meat is fibrous in nature, the movement of the same through a restricted opening can result in fiber build-up across the opening to eventually clog the same. However, the use of a movable valve member in the nozzle opening overcomes the problem of fiber build-up as with the commencing of such a build-up, the valve member operates to increase the size of the opening and the flow of material therethrough which then removes any fibrous accumulation. The force under which the material is discharged from the assembly 10 is even adequate to continuously move the material through a tube or pipe connected to the discharge sleeve 58 into other material processing equipment, such as a mixer or sausage stufier as the case may be.

As particularly illustrated in FIG. 2, discharge of the accumulation 67 of material from the rotor 31 occurs as a result of virtual sweeping of the material collection zone 54 and as the rotor moves past the nozzle 65, a new accumulation 68 of material commences. During the entire operation, vacuum conditions are maintained with oxygen bearing air being removed from the material for preservation thereof as well as color maintenance in connection with meat. Inert gas injection may also be used.

It will be understood that certain changes may be made in the construction or arrangement of the pick-up nozzle disclosed herein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A pick-up nozzle for use in removing centrifugally accumulated material from an inner surface of a rotatable bowl-like member, said nozzle including an end portion defined by an axially elongated material deflection lip portion and a shorter material pick-up lip portion opposite the base of said material deflection lip portion, and baflle means co-extensive with and overlying said material deflection lip portion and radially inclined across the end portion of said nozzle toward said material pickup lip portion to partially close said nozzle, said baflle means terminating short of said material pick-up lip portion over the same to define therewith a material receiving opening.

2. A pick-up nozzle for use in removing centrifugally accumulated material from an inner surface of a rotatable bowl-like member, said nozzle including an end portion defined by an axially elongated material deflection lip portion and a material pick-up lip portion adjacent the base of said material deflection lip portion, and baffie means co-eXtensiVe with said material deflection lip portion and directed across the end portion of said nozzle to partially close said nozzle, said baflle means terminating short of said material pick-up lip portion to define therewith a material receiving opening, the base of said baflle means being radially offset from said material pick-up lip portion internally of said nozzle to provide said nozzle with a scoop-like function.

3. A pick-up nozzle for use in removing centrifugally accumulated material from an inner surface of a rotatable bowl-like member, said nozzle including an end portion defined by an axially elongated material deflection lip portion and a material pick-up lip portion adjacent the base of said material deflection lip portion, baffie means co-extensive with said material deflection lip portion and directed across the end portion of said nozzle to partially close said nozzle, said baflie means terminating short of said material pick-up lip portion to define therewith a ma-' terial receiving opening, and a valve member pivotally mounted in said nozzle adjacent said material receiving opening and operable in response to material entering said nozzle to increase and restrict the effective size of said opening.

4. A pick-up nozzle for use in removing centrifugally accumulated material from an inner surface of a rotatable bowl-like member, said nozzle including an end portion defined by an axially elongated material deflection lip portion and a material pick-up lip portion adjacent the base of said material deflection lip portion, baffle means co-extensive with said material deflection lip portion and directed across the end portion of said nozzle to partially close said nozzle, said baflle means terminating short of said material pick-up lip portion to define therewith a material receiving opening, and a valve member pivotally mounted in said nozzle adjacent said material receiving opening and operable in response to material entering said nozzle to increase and restrict the effective size of said opening, the base of said baflle means being radially offset from said material pick-up lip portion internally of said nozzle to provide said nozzle with a scoop-like function.

5. A pick-up nozzle for use in removing centrifugally accumulated material from an inner surface of a rotatable bowl-like member, said nozzle including an end portion defined by an axially elongated material'deflection lip portion and a material pick-up lip portion adjacent the base of said material deflection lip portion, baflie means coextensive with said material deflection lip portion and directed across the end portion of said nozzle to partially close said nozzle, said baflie means terminating short of said material pick-up lip portion to define therewith a material receiving opening, and a valve member pivotally mounted in said nozzle adjacent said material receiving openingand operable in response to material entering said nozzle to increase and restrict the effective size of said opening, said valve member including a foot arranged for 8. engagement with an inner surface portion of said nozzle to limit the extent to which said valve member pivots away from said opening.

6. A pick-up nozzle for use in removing centrifugally accumulated material from an inner surface of a rotatable bowl-like member, said nozzle including an end portion defined by an axially elongated material deflection lip portion and a material pick-up lip portion adjacent the base ofsaid material deflection lip portion, baflie means co-extensive with said material deflection lip portion and directed across the end portion of said nozzle to partially close said nozzle, said baflie means terminating short of said material pick-up lip portion to define therewith a material receiving opening, and a valve member pivotally mounted in said nozzle adjacent said material receiving opening and operable in response to material entering saidnozzle to increase and restrict the effective sizeof said opening, said valve member including a foot arranged for engagement with an inner surface portion of said nozzle to limit the extent to which said valve member pivots away from said opening, the base of said baflie means being radially offset from said material pick-up lip portion internally of said nozzle to provide said nozzle with a scooplike function.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 

